The City of San Diego's Mayor Faulconer's budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 will not include the City's annual contribution of $254,000 to the park. We feel that it deserves to be.
The San Dieguito River Park JPA has carried out almost $170 million worth of projects. Over 85% of that total consists of projects located in the City of San Diego and land acquisitions in the watershed of Lake Hodges and Sutherland Lake.
Support of a regional agency that focuses its resources on providing services in the City of San Diego is an excellent example of outsourcing that has worked. The relatively small amount of annual funds paid to the JPA from the City of San Diego ($254,100 in FY 13/14) is leveraged by funding from the other 5 member agencies. The City of San Diego’s share has been reduced to 31% of the member agency contributions (reduced from 36% as a result of the 2010 census). If the City funding is pulled, then the City of San Diego would have to pay the cost of managing 30 miles of trails on City property that the JPA now manages for the City, and it would be much more than $254,100.
Having a land management agency with a proven track record like the JPA has encouraged partnerships and investments from other entities such as Southern California Edison. Without the JPA in place, it is very unlikely that the $86 million San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration would have occurred in San Diego County.
The people who have signed this petition are all supporters and users of the San Dieguito River Park. They belive the relationship between the SDRP and the City of San Diego should be preserved and looked upon as a triumph instead of a burden. They are also asking that the City of San Diego preserve it's funding to the river park and remain in the JPA.
The San Dieguito River Park has done great things and has accomplished many goals in the past 25 years. The trails and staging areas are well maintained and safe. Lets continue to work together and make the San Dieguito River Park and it's vision of the Coast to Crest trail a reality that San Diegans can enjoy far into the future.
